Rufus D. Whitley, one of the leading and well known farmers of Hardeman County, was born September 12, 1840, in Johnson County, N.C. His parents were Haywood and Esther (Gouringhiam) Whitley. Both were born, raised, married and died in the same State and county in which Rufus first saw the light of day. Each was of Primitive Baptist faith, although neither united with the church. They had two sons and one daughter. The father was a Democrat and farmer by occupation. He died about 1846. Mrs. Whitley married the second time to Henderson Graham, by whom she had seven children — three sons and four daughters. One of the boys, E. B., is a Methodist minister. The mother departed this life in 1861. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm. His educational advantages were very limited. In 1861, he volunteered in the Confederate service, Company D, of the Third North Carolina Cavalry, in the division of Wm. H. Lee. During more than four years of faithful and active service, he was never wounded. At Comeus Crossing, south of Pittsburg, Va., he was taken prisoner and retained at Point Lookout for eight months. While in confinement, he learned to make horsehair watch-guards and thus earned the means with which he supplied himself with the extras of prison life. After the close of the war, he returned financially ruined; he began life again by hiring on a farm and teaching school. In 1867, he started to Mississippi, but his means gave out, and meeting Martin Moore, he was induced to come to Hardeman County to work for him. In the fall of same year, he married Miss Margie R. Hammond, who was born November 3, 1839, in Haywood County. Their union has been blessed with four children: William T., Jesse B., Rufus M. and Joseph A. Mr. and Mrs. Whitley and three older sons are members of the Methodist Church. In politics, Mr. Whitley is an ardent Democrat but has never aspired to places of public trust, but by close attention to his affairs, industry and economy, has risen from a tenant to the proprietor of 360 acres of valuable and productive land as can be found in the county. He lends a liberal and helping hand to all churches, schools and good enterprises. No man is more respected or better known.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”